The Episcopal Church Center, at 815 Second Avenue (between 43rd and 44th Streets, close to Grand Central and the United Nations) in New York City is known by various names.  You may have heard it colloquially called “815” or legally referred to as ‘The Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society (DFMS) of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America.’  You could also think of it as the administrative headquarters of The Episcopal Church.

The Episcopal Church Center is home to departments and offices supported by the Episcopal dioceses and General Convention to empower the ministry of the baptized and to do Christ's work in the world.  There are five main categories of departments: those answering directly to the Presiding Bishop; those that are part of the Executive Offices of General Convention; Mission and Program offices, entrusted to carry out mandates of General Convention; Mission Support offices (finance and administration); and agency offices located in the building, which are related to DFMS or General Convention (e.g. Episcopal Relief and Development).  There are also independent agencies at 815, such as The Episcopal Church Foundation or the National Association of Episcopal Schools.

In many ways, the Church Center functions much like any corporate office – we answer a lot of phone calls and emails and attend meetings while trying to complete work and projects.   Morning Prayer is said and midday Eucharist celebrated daily in the Chapel of Christ our Lord.  The recently renovated Catalyst Bookstore & Café is open daily on the first floor of the building.  The Presiding Bishop’s official residence is on the top floor.   The Church Center was built in 1962 and underwent much needed renovations that were completed at the end of 2006.   These renovations have freed two and a half floors of office space available to Lease.

The Church Center employs more than 200 employees who are ready to serve as resources for congregations, dioceses, and parish communities throughout the Episcopal Church.  .

If you’re planning to be in New York City, come and visit us at your Church Center.